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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
Love, love, love this series! Can't wait for the next one later this year.
The concept had potential but approximately halfway through, the book began feeling both repetitive and contradictory. The main character would have a revelation, go on a bit about it, several pages later be back to her original viewpoint, and then suddenly have the same revelation again as if it had never occurred.
Also, not a fan of how the ending has a blindingly obvious cliffhanger indicating another tale to come.
And yet, if I find the time, I will most likely attempt at third book in the hopes of plot resolution and to see if the main character's personality firms up.
Also, not a fan of how the ending has a blindingly obvious cliffhanger indicating another tale to come.
And yet, if I find the time, I will most likely attempt at third book in the hopes of plot resolution and to see if the main character's personality firms up.
3 stars because I'm conflicted about this whole series. I would give 5+ stars to the modern time of it, I really just want a romance novel about Xanthe setting up an antiques shop and everything she gets up to with her life, but the time travel aspect just doesn't work for me. I liked this better than the first book, but every time Xanthe comes up with a lie about where she's going to her mother I can't help but wish she were actually going to do the lies instead of travel in time. I don't feel like the Spinning storyline has been really developed, and Fairfax really wasn't a convincing villain. Still, I'll be reading the next one because I want to read more about what the modern residents of Marlborough get up to!
Beautiful atmospheric novel, fans of time travel will not be disappointed. I didn’t realize that there are other books in the series, will definitely be picking them up.
Unbeknownst to me Secrets of the Chocolate house is the second in a series of novels written by Paula Brackston. But fear not, it’s written in a way that is quite easy to piece the history together from the first novel although on reflection I would have made it easier on myself had I stopped an read the first instalment titled Little Shop of Found Things.
Unfortunately I don’t have any particular gift .... for anything!
The heroine Xanthe has two gifts - one for singing (literally) and a gift of interpreting where inanimate objects ‘sing’ to her. When the item sings to Xanthe she is transported (referred to as ‘spinning’) backwards and forwards in time. It’s a relatively new gift Xanthe has discovered and she has yet to fully understand her abilities.
Xanthe is hell bent on going back in time to help Samuel, as she has forseen his death and she fears she could have done something to prevent it. With this aim, we observe Xanthe as she tries to juggle her present life as co-owner of an antique shop in present day England, and right the wrongs of the past. Can she do so without significantly impacting the future in a negative way?
She meets some remarkable characters on her journey to the past - such as the owner of the Chocolate House who coincidentally is also a spinner who sees so much of herself in Xanthe, as well as Benedict Fairfax who will stop at nothing to achieve his own end and control the future. Harley, from Xanthe’s present proves to be an interesting character as well
The questions for readers are will Xanthe alter the course of history by rescuing Samuel and find love in the past? Will she sacrifice herself to Fairfax in order to save those she loves or will she leave the past in the past?
This is an enjoyable read, with a somewhat historical Sliding Doors-ish vibe (though in a good way). For lovers of historical fiction this book is rich in historic detail about life in the 1600s. At times however, I thought there was so much detail I was distracted from what was happening and I haven’t quit figured out the purpose of Marcus, Xanthe’s ex-boyfriend as that part of the story didn’t really seem necessary.
The characters are likeable and Xanthe shows promise as a recurring character in a series. She can tend toward being frustrating with her agonising though.
Thank you to Paula Brackston and St Martins Press and Netgalley for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Posted to goodreads and will also appear on my instagram @aplace_inthesun.
Unfortunately I don’t have any particular gift .... for anything!
The heroine Xanthe has two gifts - one for singing (literally) and a gift of interpreting where inanimate objects ‘sing’ to her. When the item sings to Xanthe she is transported (referred to as ‘spinning’) backwards and forwards in time. It’s a relatively new gift Xanthe has discovered and she has yet to fully understand her abilities.
Xanthe is hell bent on going back in time to help Samuel, as she has forseen his death and she fears she could have done something to prevent it. With this aim, we observe Xanthe as she tries to juggle her present life as co-owner of an antique shop in present day England, and right the wrongs of the past. Can she do so without significantly impacting the future in a negative way?
She meets some remarkable characters on her journey to the past - such as the owner of the Chocolate House who coincidentally is also a spinner who sees so much of herself in Xanthe, as well as Benedict Fairfax who will stop at nothing to achieve his own end and control the future. Harley, from Xanthe’s present proves to be an interesting character as well
The questions for readers are will Xanthe alter the course of history by rescuing Samuel and find love in the past? Will she sacrifice herself to Fairfax in order to save those she loves or will she leave the past in the past?
This is an enjoyable read, with a somewhat historical Sliding Doors-ish vibe (though in a good way). For lovers of historical fiction this book is rich in historic detail about life in the 1600s. At times however, I thought there was so much detail I was distracted from what was happening and I haven’t quit figured out the purpose of Marcus, Xanthe’s ex-boyfriend as that part of the story didn’t really seem necessary.
The characters are likeable and Xanthe shows promise as a recurring character in a series. She can tend toward being frustrating with her agonising though.
Thank you to Paula Brackston and St Martins Press and Netgalley for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Posted to goodreads and will also appear on my instagram @aplace_inthesun.